Coppinger is well known to Reds fans, infamously getting both Neil Austin and Antony Kay sent off in an ill-tempered game at Oakwell in October 2005. Rovers ended up winning the match 2-0 to inflict on The Reds their only home league defeat of that 2005-2006 promotion winning season. He signed a new deal at the Keepmoat Stadium in 2011, tying him to the club until 2014 but their untimely drop back into England's third tier has seen him look to leave.

Keith Hill is also said to be keen on signing 20-year-old Frenchman Helan from the Premier League champions.

Although he is yet to make an appearance for City, he is held in high regard at the Etihad Stadium. He has spent time on loan with Carlisle last season.

Hill told the Sheffield Star: “We’ve made an enquiry about James and we’ll have to see what happens, hopefully we can something by the weekend.

“I’ve also been speaking to his [Helan’s] agent, but I see him more as a defender than a midfielder, so it’s a case of whether I want to use square plugs to fill round holes.

“But ideally I’d like to get two players in for the weekend because the worry is that we’re really see-through at the moment.”